Several days later, I set out for the forest again, with Medea seeing me off.
The image of that silver-haired hunter I had encountered before had remained etched in my mind, refusing to fade.
When I pushed through the dense undergrowth and reached the deepest reaches of the woods, where no human foot seemed to tread, I heard the soft beat of wings above me.
I reflexively looked up.
A great owl was gazing down at me from the canopy.
In that instant, light erupted around me.
A dazzling golden radiance cleaved through the air, and the owl’s form slowly began to warp and shift.
In its place, a woman appeared.
Standing with a spear and shield, her posture was poised and utterly unshakable.
The moment I beheld her, I knew instinctively.
...A goddess.
Realizing this, I knelt without hesitation.
"Astellon, King of Eirene, greets the Goddess Athena."
The Goddess Athena, who had watched over our kingdom since its founding—that was the identity of the woman before me.
Athena looked down at me in silence.
Her gaze was steady and unwavering.
After a moment, the goddess spoke.
"...Your name is spoken of even in Olympus. You refine your nation with human reason and strive not to rely solely on strength... That is a quality well worth praising."
I bowed my head even deeper.
Athena took a step toward me.
Then, she extended the spear she held and offered it to me.
"Take it."
I reached out with both hands and accepted it with the utmost respect.
The moment it touched my palms, a heavy, potent power surged through me.
Even without an explanation, I could tell this was no ordinary weapon.
"That spear does not miss," Athena said in a calm, composed voice.
"If paired with your own will, the result shall not deviate."
Without lifting my head, I replied, "...I am grateful for such an undeserved grace."
"...I shall watch your future steps."
When I finally looked up, the Goddess Athena had already vanished.
Only a quiet mist remained, drifting slowly through the trees.
And in my hand, I still held the spear imbued with divinity.
***
I returned to the royal palace carrying the spear I had received from Athena.
Upon my arrival, my officials reported that a wild boar was rampaging in Calydon, and heroes from all over were gathering to hunt it.
"The Calydonian Boar... how interesting," I murmured softly.
The official bowed his head and continued, "Many heroes are already assembling there. Rumors have spread that it is no mere beast."
I fell into thought for a moment.
Heroes were gathering.
That meant this was a hunt that could not be settled by raw strength alone.
Intrigued, I rose from my seat.
"Prepare yourselves. We depart."
"Your Majesty, you are going personally?"
"Yes," I replied shortly.
There was no reason to hesitate.
Though my officials were worried, they could not dissuade me. Thus, I left the castle to join the hunt for the Calydonian Boar.
When I arrived at the entrance of the Calydonian forest, the area was already teeming with people.
Soldiers had established a camp on the outskirts, while heroes from various regions were scattered further inside.
Some held spears, others swords; however, their eyes were filled with mutual suspicion, as if they were guarding against one another rather than hunting a beast.
I stopped my horse and scanned the crowd.
...This is certainly no ordinary fight.
"The King has come in person."
As I was observing the assembly, a voice spoke from beside me.
I turned my head to find a strange man watching me.
"I've heard your name. I didn't expect to see you in the flesh."
"...Did you come to see if the rumors were exaggerated?" I asked.
The man gave a short smirk. "No. Quite the opposite."
"I see..."
I said no more. Ending the conversation, I passed through the crowd and entered the forest.
The more people there are, the deeper a beast hides.
Therefore, there was only one answer: enter before everyone else.
As I stepped deeper into the woods, the air felt heavy, unlike the atmosphere outside.
That alone told me that the Calydonian Boar was nearby.
I slowed my pace and surveyed the surroundings.
Snapped trees, deep gouges in the bark, and massive footprints.
While I was examining the traces likely left by the boar, I heard the rustle of bushes behind me.
Reflexively, I spun around and gripped my spear.
The person who appeared before me was...
"...Hah. What? You're here too?"
"...It's been a while since we were on Jason's ship."
It was Atalanta, a presence both familiar and close to me.
Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, we simply stared at each other in silence.
"...Seeing you here, I assume you've come for the boar as well."
"Yeah. I got bored of doing paperwork at the castle, so I just decided to leave."
"...Do your officials not complain?"
"Not particularly..."
Starting with that, we walked together, chatting as we went.
"They say this boar is nearly as strong as a divine beast."
"Doesn't matter."
I lightly adjusted my grip on the spear.
Atalanta's eyes shifted to my hand.
"...That spear."
"Hmm?"
"I haven't seen it before."
"Ah. A stroke of luck."
"Is that so..."
Atalanta looked away from the tip of my spear and dove deeper into the shadows of the forest with her characteristic agile stride.
"A stroke of luck... how like you. I hope that spear is as sharp as your skills. This prey won't even be scratched by mediocre steel."
As she said, the forest began to take on a grotesque appearance.
Nearby trees had been uprooted and tossed aside, and the air reeked of beastly musk and crushed earth.
Confirming the signs, we advanced silently, guarding each other's backs.
Then, the earth shook as if screaming.
K-boom!
The trees in front of us were torn apart like sheets of paper, and a mountain-like figure charged toward us.
The Calydonian Boar.
It was less of a beast and more of a walking disaster. The tusks protruding from its gaping maw were as long as a grown man was tall, and the steel-like bristles covering its body could repel almost any weapon.
"It's coming!"
At Atalanta's shout, her arrow flew like lightning, embedding itself between the boar's eyes.
But the beast did not stop. Instead, it used that rage as fuel and stomped the ground.
I tightened my grip on the spear Athena had given me.
The divinity flowing through my palm heated my veins.
As the boar lunged, I leaped precisely to the side and swung the shaft of the spear.
Clang!
As the tip grazed the boar's flank, the hardened hide burst open effortlessly, like a ripe fruit.
The spear that does not miss.
Athena's promise was a reality.
"Astellon, now!"
Another of Atalanta's arrows pierced one of the boar's eyes, causing it to thrash with a monstrous shriek.
Seizing the moment, I kicked off the ground and leaped high, putting the full weight of my body into the downward thrust.
The boar let out a final, deathly scream and reared its head, but my spear had already pierced through its throat and driven deep into the earth.
The boar collapsed like a falling mountain.
The vibrations that had terrorized the forest ceased, and a heavy silence returned.
For a moment, there was no sound at all.
In the middle of the forest, beside the fallen titan, I stood still with my spear still embedded in the beast.
Blood flowed.
Down the spear, over my hand, and onto the ground.
I slowly pulled the spear out.
With a squelching sound, the boar's body gave a final, minute tremor.
It was completely over.
The moment I confirmed the kill, I heard footsteps behind me.
"...It's finished."
"...Yeah."
After a moment, she walked up beside me.
Atalanta looked down at the fallen boar in silence.
"...I didn't think you'd finish this alone."
"Technically, I wasn't alone," I replied shortly.
"You took out one of its eyes for me."
"...I suppose."
"Yeah."
Hearing my answer, she stepped closer and asked, "...Are you hurt anywhere?"
"...No."
She didn't nod immediately. Her gaze traveled from my shoulder to my arm, and finally to the hand gripping the spear.
"...Right."
Atalanta spoke briefly and turned her head away.
"...That spear. It's been bothering me since earlier."
"Is it?"
I lifted the spear slightly to show her.
We stood there, looking at one another.
Then, we sensed other presences approaching from a distance.
"...They're finally coming," Atalanta noted.
"Indeed."
Sensing the arrival of the other heroes, I looked down at the boar's carcass.
"...This is going to be a hassle."
Atalanta let out a short sigh.
"Probably more so because you're a king."
"Still better than being a hunter."
"...Is it?"
"Probably?"
As we talked while waiting for the others, I noticed Atalanta seemed to be contemplating something.
Just as I was about to ask her about it, she spoke first.
"...By the way... Astellon. May I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her gaze flickered toward the ground and paused.
"A king... usually would have married by now."
"...What?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.
"Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"...Just. It seemed strange."
I let out a small chuckle.
"Not yet. I have no intention of doing so for now."
Atalanta's expression shifted ever so slightly.
"I see..."
I thought that was the end of it, but her next question left me completely stunned.
"...Then what about Medea?"
"...Huh?"
"Answer me, Astellon."
"...Why is she coming up now?"
Atalanta's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"...She's always by your side."
"That is true, but it's a separate matter."
At my answer, the corners of Atalanta's mouth curled up slightly, and she let out a faint breath.
"...I see."
"....."
We continued to talk, eventually circling back to the fight with the boar.
"You overexerted yourself at the end. That wasn't like you."
"Did I...?"
"Yes. So... don't do it next time. If you keep that up, you'll ruin your health."
I looked away from her.
"Are you worried about me?"
Atalanta froze instantly.
"...No. It's just... inefficient."
I chuckled.
"....Right. Let's go with that."
A moment passed, and Atalanta turned to leave.
"Are you going?"
"Yeah."
I watched her as she began to walk away.
After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at me with a soft gaze.
"...Can we meet again?"
"Well... I suppose so."
Atalanta remained silent for a moment.
Then, looking at me one last time,
"...Then I'll see you next time."
With those words, she walked away without looking back. I looked at the carcass of the Calydonian Boar, then shifted my gaze to the spear in my hand.
The heavy, unerring spear.
Recalling my conversation with Atalanta, I slowly looked up.
"...Next time, huh? Heh. Not bad."
And in my hand, the spear imbued with divinity remained.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register